Ten upcoming car launches you would love to know about

Ten upcoming car launches

Defying the ongoing slowdown in the auto industry, global carmakers are betting big on the India market, with a slew of launches lined up for end of 2013 and early 2014.

Are you planning to buy a car? Consider these ten upcoming launches and facelifts before taking the final call. Will they be worth the wait? Find out what's new!:

1/11

Honda's Brio based MPV, the Mobilio

The Mobilio MPV will be making its Indian debut sometime in 2014. The Mobilio is the third car on the Brio's platform, the second being the Amaze (Brio sedan/Brio Amaze) which was unveiled last year.

The Mobilio is 4.4 meters in length, has a 185mm ground clearance and a wheelbase of 2,650mm. Along with a petrol engine, Honda Cars India will sell the Mobilio with the 1.5-litre Honda EarthDreams diesel as well. We would expect the MPV to be shown at the 2014 Auto Expo in February.

In both, the Indian and the Indonesian markets, the Mobilio targets the Maruti-Suzuki Ertiga. The Mobilio has been priced from 150-180 million Indonesian Rupiah (Rs 8.41 lakhs to Rs 10.09 lakhs).

Suzuki Swift Facelift

The 2013 Swift can be instantly identified by LED daytime running lights, situated in the foglight enclosure, a feature which reminds us about the Hyundai i20. The facelifted car gets a high mounted rear LED stop lights.

Other noteworthy exterior changes include silver detailing to the lower front bumper, new hubcaps for lower variants and a new Boost Blue exterior color option.

On the inside, the Swift facelift comes with power folding outside rear view mirrors, automatic headlights, 'Auto Up' function for the driver side power window, and newly designed seat fabrics with blue and grey accents. Expect to see these updates being rolled out on the India-specific Maruti Swift in 2014.

Datsun Go+ MPV

Two months after Datsun unveiled its comeback car, Go, in India, the company took the wraps off its second car - a 7-seater MPV called the Go+ in Indonesia. The MPV is based on the same platform as the hatchback - something clearly denoted by the car's name and the identical styling, engine and power ratings.

It also shares the same 2450mm wheelbase as the hatchback and the extra 210mm length is the only key differentiating factor. The length is still under the 4-metre mark that will entitle it to excise benefits when it launches here.

Inside, too, the styling remains true to the hatchback with features like bench seats up front, dashboard-mounted gearshift lever and the Datsun Mobile Docking Station for smartphone integration. The crucial difference, of course, is an additional third row that will seat two.

4/11

AFP

Renault Duster facelift

Explained as "more Duster than ever," the Dacia Duster facelift made its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Dacia says they upgraded the vehicle's looks, but largely retained the original car's design, which is cited as the main factor behind its worldwide success.

According to Dacia's marketers, the design cues on the makeover increasingly hint at the 4X4 capability of the vehicle. The grille is redesigned with two chrome-plated slabs. The air-intakes, following a redesign, are housed at a lower point on the front. The headlamps are "double-optic" units and come infused with daytime running lamps.

Moving around to the back of the car, the Duster facelift receives differently detailed taillights, a chrome-tipped exhaust pipe, and a 4X4 badge in a different font.

Datsun Go

Go' which is a 5-seater, 5-door hatchback, is Datsun's first car in India, and will be launched in early 2014. On the engine front, the Go will be powered by a 1.2 litre petrol engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox which is also shared by the Nissan Micra, but expect a very different state of tune with further importance imparted on drivability and fuel efficiency.

First impressions of the car look very good indeed and from the proportions and specs that have come out, the Go seems to aim directly at the likes of the Maruti Suzuki A-Star and the Hyundai i10 amongst others.

6/11

Reuters

Maruti SUV XA Alpha

XA Alpha will make an entry into a segment where Renault's Duster and Ford's EcoSport are popular. XA Alpha is based on the Swift platform and will be launched in both the petrol and diesel variants. It is likely to be priced between Rs 6-8 lakhs.

Headlamps, tailamps have drawn inspiration from muscles of wrestlers. The car showacased at the Auto Expo also had a roof-mounted stop lamp. The side profile of the Alpha looks sturdy right from the strong looking wheels and tires to the meaty lines on the doors, says Zigwheels.com

Zigwheels.com reported that the interiors are likely to be similar to the Swift and Swift Dzire. A hood with a water-fall crease integrated into the front grill. The front lamps with a hawk eyed theme are an extension of the grill.

Image by: Arunava Biswas, Economictimes.com

7/11

ECONOMICTIMES.COM

Toyota Innova Facelift

The Innova facelift is the next launch lined up by Toyota. At the front, the Innova gets a larger chrome grille and an all-new bumper with chrome surrounds for the foglights. At the rear, changes are less pronounced and include a chrome embellishment extending across the width of the bootlid and a mildly tweaked bumper. These cosmetic changes do not apply to the low-end variant though.

As far as the mechanical changes go, there are none. The Innova continues its lineup with the 2.0-liter petrol engine producing 136bhp and 183Nm of torque and a 2.5-liter diesel engine producing 102bhp and 200Nm of torque. The petrol engine is available with manual and automatic gearbox options while the diesel is sold with a manual only.

Features wise, all variants of the Innova now get ABS and dual front airbags as part of the standard equipment. This was earlier offered only in the top-end V model.

Hyundai 2014 Elantra

This is one Hyundai car with plenty of attitude and a fair bit of ego, and understandably so as it has spent most of 2012 bagging every automobile design award across publications. Whatever it lacked in terms of cosmetics and interior gadgetry has just been incorporated in its 2014 Avante version.

The minor exterior revisions to an already fabulous looking saloon include the front bumper, radiator grille, fog lamps, rear bumper, along with two-tone 17-inch alloys. The stylish layout of the Elantra on the inside sees the center air vent position moved slightly upward on the Avante, while the front center armrest has also been raised.

The 2014 Hyundai Avante / Elantra would perhaps make do with a 1.6-litre diesel engine with stop/go system producing 128PS and 279Nm of torque. The face-lifted version of the Hyundai Elantra is expected here in India sometime towards the end of 2013 or early 2014.

9/11

Reuters

Nissan Terrano

The Terrano sports a slightly different styling to distinguish it from the Duster. At the front, the Terrano gets new angular headlamps, grille and bumper.

The rear is characterised by an all-new tailgate design a taillamp design that some may feel resemble the Ford EcoSport's. The tailgate gets an altered licence plate holder. The rear bumper has also been marginally restyled to accommodate the reflectors at a slightly altered position around the corners.

However, engine options continue to be the same as in the Duster, which is powered by the 1.5-litre dCi engine that is available in two states of tune.

10/11

Zigwheels.com

Skoda's new Octavia

Expected Price(from Zigwheels.com): Upwards of Rs 15 lakh

Skoda Auto received positive response when it showcased the new Octavia sedan at several consumer events in September. The car will hit the road in October. The car follows Skoda's new Vision D design philosophy and has the redesigned grille with a refined Skoda badge which is the signature design for all future Skoda vehicles.